classes of the two countries were very similar with just onedistinct difference which Edward opposed. Both had a large rural peasantry with freetenants and serfs. The tenants and serfs lived on the farmland that they farmed which wasowned by nobels. In the towns there were many artisans merchants and clerks on thestreets. These were considered the middle class people. The nobles were separated intotwo classes. The first class was made up of lesser lords who owned small estates and hadlocal powers. The higher aristocracy was made up of the small elite. These were dukes,earls, counts, and princes of lands. The difference began here. In England there was asingle government that was involved in governing the whole land. In France thegovernment was divided and counts or dukes were assigned to rule over certain areas ofthe land (Lace 24). In 1339 Edward began battle. He sent a small army to Flanders to try to provokePhilips troops. He then went south and began a siege slaughtering livestock, burningcrops and villages, and killing people. He also began the use of a chevauchee whichliterally means, run through on horesback. These were intended to make people sick ofwar and weaken the local government. The French marched north and met the Englishnear St. Quentin. Edward challenged Philip there and Philip agreed, but only if Edwardcould find a battleground without trees in the way. Philip later changed his mind thoughand backed down. This made Edward mad because it was a waste of time and money(Lace 30). On June 24, 1340, the English sailed toward France. They turned around, butthe French chased them. Because the harbor was so narrow the two fleets ran into eachother. The English strategy was to crash into the French boats and attach themselvesusing grappling hooks and then swarm aboard. The English used arrows against theFrench and were the first to kill off a large number of people. This battle, at Sluys, wasthe Englishs first major vic...
